Sign-Up Bonuses Will Always Outpace Spending

Last week we talked about Chase 5/24 - the rule that determines whether Chase will let you in the door at all. This week, we're talking about what's waiting for you once you get there.

Here's the single most important concept in all of points strategy:

Sign-up bonuses will always outpace everyday spending. It's not even close.

Let me show you the math.

If you put $2,000 a month on a credit card that earns 2x points on everything, you're earning about 48,000 points a year. That's solid. That might get you a domestic flight.

Now compare that to the Chase Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus: 75,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. That's 18 months of everyday spending — compressed into one quarter, on spending you were going to do anyway.

The Ink Business Preferred? 100,000 points after $8,000 in three months. The Ink Business Unlimited? 75,000 points. Free card. Zero annual fee.

That's 250,000 points from three cards in year one. On normal spending. Bills, groceries, gas, subscriptions — just run it through the right card.

This is the engine behind the 18 countries, 46 flights, and every hotel stay my family has taken for under $4,000 total. Not years of accumulating 2x points. Strategic sign-up bonuses, in the right order, on spending we were already doing.

Everyday spending still matters — and we'll talk about how to set it up on autopilot in a future tip. But if you're waiting to earn your way to a free flight one grocery run at a time, you'll be waiting a long time.

The shortcut is the bonus. Go get the bonus first.

More next week.

Swipe Smart. Go Far.

Cassie Jemilo, Owner of 3P Travel

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pointspassportpros@gmail.com

P.S. — Not sure which card to start with? The free intro presentation walks you through the full starter stack. SIGN UP HERE if you would like to attend.